GEPC’s engineers are finalizing the construction of the subsea converter that will be used for Paimpol-Bréhat tidal project.
The subsea converter consists of steel housing that is 9 m long, 5 m wide and 4 m high.
The converter will enclose all the electrotechnical equipment required for electrical conversion, according to GE Power Conversion (GEPC).
The company is completing the final tests, before inserting all the technical elements into the housing. After the welding process, converter will be submerged for the period of 5 years of autonomous operation at the bottom of the ocean.
Aside from constructing the subsea converter, GEPC is also responsible for the construction of onshore power station.
Paimpol-Bréhat project is jointly developed by DCNS, through its subsidiary OpenHydro, and EDF. The project comprises the installation of two 500 kW tidal turbines that are currently under construction at various sites across Europe .
The Paimpol-Bréhat tidal project is located 16 km off the coast of Brittany, France, at the water depths of 35 m.
An electrical conversion system will allow the electricity produced from the turbines to be transported as continuous electrical current to an onshore substation close to the Arcouest Peninsula in Ploubazlanec that will feed the electricity to the French grid.
Frédéric Navarro , GEPC Project Manager, said: “Paimpol-Bréhat is the first offshore tidal turbine project developed on a pre-industrial level. While its wattage is still modest, with two 0.5 MW turbines, the full-scale installation will be closely watched by the entire renewable energy sector.”
The turbines are expected to be grid connected before the end of 2015.
GE’s Power Conversion business applies the science and systems of power conversion to serve specialized sectors such as energy, marine, industry and all related services.
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Image: GEPC